Transcript L08
Introduction to
JavaScript
Topics
What is JavaScript?
Why JavaScript?
Including JavaScript in HTML
Hello World Example Script
JavaScript Comments
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What is JavaScript?
Created by Netscape
A client-side scripting language
Originally called LiveWire then LiveScript
Client-side refers to the fact that it is executed in
the client (software) that the viewer is using. In
the case of JavaScript, the client is the browser.
A server-side language is one that runs on the
Web server. Examples: PHP, Python
Interpreted on-the-fly by the client
Each line is processed as it loads in the browser
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JavaScript is not Java
Completely different types of languages that
just happen to be similarly named
JavaScript - programs are interpreted in the
browser
Java - programs are compiled and can be run as
stand alone applications
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Why JavaScript?
It’s easier to learn than most programming
languages
It allows you to make interactive Web pages
It can be fun!
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Including JavaScript in HTML
Two ways to add JavaScript to Web pages
Use the <script>…</script> tag
Include the script in an external file -- more about
this later in the semester
Initially, we will only use the <script>…</script>
tag
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Hello, World!
Typically, in any programming language, the
first example you learn displays “Hello,
World!”
We are going to take a look at a Hello World
example and then examine all of its parts.
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Hello World in JavaScript
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Hello World Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-document.write("<h1>Hello, world!</h1>");
//-->
</script>
</body>
</html>
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Hello World Screenshot
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The <script>…</script> tag
The code for the script is contained in the
<script>…</script> tag
<script type="text/javascript">
.
.
.
</script>
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Hiding JavaScript from Older
Browsers
Some older browsers do not support JavaScript
We need to tell those browsers to ignore what is in the
<script> tag
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-some JavaScript code
//-->
</script>
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Displaying text
The document.write() method writes a string
of text to the browser
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-document.write("<h1>Hello, world!</h1>");
//-->
</script>
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document.write()
Ends in a semicolon
document.write("<h1>Hello,world!</h1>");
Enclosed in quotes -denotes a "string"
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Comments in JavaScript
Two types of comments
Single line
Uses two forward slashes (i.e. //)
Multiple line
Uses /* and */
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Single Line Comment Example
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-// This is my JavaScript comment
document.write("<h1>Hello!</h1>");
//-->
</script>
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Multiple Line Comment
Example
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-/* This is a multiple line comment.
* The star at the beginning of this line is optional.
* So is the star at the beginning of this line.
*/
document.write("<h1>Hello!</h1>");
//-->
</script>
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Find the Bug!
<script type="text/javascript">
<!-/* This is my JavaScript comment
* that spans more than 1 line.
*
document.write("<h1>Hello!</h1>");
//-->
</script>
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